Garment-clasp.



P. A. TRAVER. GARMENT. CLASP. APPLICATION FILED PBEM, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

mammals pensas' cu., wasrynaron, n. c.

g FRANK A. TRAVER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

` GARMENT-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application led February. 14, 1908. Serial No. 415,877.

. To all whom it may concern:

provements in. Garment-Clasps; and I do.

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion ofthe invention, such as will enable ot ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. j

This invention relates to certain improvements in clasps or clamps, particularly adapted for garment supporters and the like; and the objects and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now consider my preferred embodiment from among other formations `and constructions within the spirit and scope of my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved clasp peculiarly adapted for use in garment supporters and which will be so formed and constructed as to be ca able of clasping or gripping various clot s or 'fabrics of different body or thickness and which when once secured or adjusted to locking position will maintain its hold on the fabric without accidental slipping or becoming detached therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to` provide certain improvements in arrangements and formations of arts whereby a highly efficient clasp l be produced capable of various uses in connection with apparel or the like.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings zFigure 1, is a perspective view of the clasp in locked or gripping osition. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section s owing the same in opened or unlocked osition. Fig. 3, is a lo Uitudinal section s owing the same in locke gripping adjustment. Fig. 4, is a ers ective view` showin the clas in P P j P opened or unlocked position.

The clasp comprises an elongated body or main plate 1, by which the device is at.

tached to and hung from the supporting webbing or tape 2, and on which the movable jaw and wedging or locking device are mounted or carried. The vertically elongated strip or plate 1, can be cut or struck u in one piece of any suitable sheet meta, or can be otherwise formed of suitable material.

. 'In the specific example illustrated, I show the plate at its upper end formed with a pair of transverse slots 10, forming an interven- .bridge piece 1l, and near its lower end, slow said plate formed with a pair of transverse slots 12, forming vening bridge piece 13, all for the purpose of providing means for securing the webbing to and longitudinally of the plate. T he `webbing ispassed from the rear face of the plate through upper slot l0, over front edge of bridge 11, and in through lower slot 10, and from thence passes downwardly along and facing the innerside of the late to lower vslot 12, through which the Web ing is assed `simple arrangement is provided for attaching the late to or detaching the same from the web ing, and whereby the plate can be adjusted longitudinally of the webbing, although I do not as at present advised wish to limit all features of my invention thereto.

The clasp comprises a pair of jaws to grip land hold the stocking or other article or material to be held, and one jaw is stationary and the other movable. For` instance, I show the lower portion of the plate 1, forming or constituting the fixed jaw, and the movable jaw 8, is pivotally joined to or mounted on the plate to swing toward and from the same. The movable jawv shown consists of a plate of metal or other suitable material arranged at the outer face of the lower portion of the body .plate and near its upper end pivoted thereto to swing on a transverse axis so that its lower end can swingtoward and from the body plate. The movable jaw can be pivotally mounted through the medium of inturned side or edge ears 30, lapping outturned ears 14, from the side edges ot' the body plate. The transverse 15, usually arranged parallel with and belowthe movable jaw gripping flange, and I also preferably provide the body plate with an additional outturned gripping flange 16, arranged parallel with flange 15, and above and spaced therefrom. 'Ihe flanges 15, 16, are preferably so arranged that the fi ange 31, of tne movable jaw will move in between the same and so that the upper flange 1 6, will engage the inner face of the movable jaw or will grip the material being clamped between its edge and said face of the jaw while the flange of the movable jaw tightly depresses said material between the flanges 15 16, and tightly holds the same therein.

rf`he flange 16, can be formed by the intermediate portion of the body plate cut and turned out to form the lower slot or opening 12, for the passage of the webbing. The jaw 3, is spaced outwardly a distance from the outer face of the body plate to afford the movable jaw the necessary freedom of movee ment in swinging to opened position as the upper end of the j aw proiects above the transverse axis on which the aw stv-ings.

Means are provided for firmly and securely locking or holding the movable jaw in closed or gripping position, and whereby said jaw can be easily released to permit outward or opening swing thereof for the release of the stocking or other article gripped thereby. For instance, I show a laterally swingable wedging or locking lever or plate l, normally arranged longitudinally of the outer face of the body plate and extending upwardly from the movable aw. This lever can be formed by an elongated plate or body of spring sheet metal or other suitable material having its lower end turned outwardly about at right angles to form a transverseuwedge or locking flange 40 which is preferably rounded throughout the length of its outer edge. Between its ends, the lever is fulcrumed or pivotally joined to the body plate, as by a rivet Lf1, arranged perpendicularly with respect to the body plate so that the lever swings on a horizontal axis, or an axis transverse of the body plate. The upper end of the lever can be formed with an outward projection or finger piece 42,

through the medium of which the lever can be readily swung in either direction by the finger. This finoer piece can be formed by pressing a longitudinal intermediate portion of the metal of the lever, between two cuts,

outwardly,y thereby forming a recess o r depression at the rear face of the lever as well as the projection at the outer face thereof.

ff so desired, means can be provided to yieldingly hold the lever in upright or holding position, Figs. 1, 3. For instance, l show a transverse intermediate portion of the main plate eut and pressed outwardly to form a curved or rounded outward pro jee-tion or knob 17, on which the upper end of the lever is adapted to ride or slide and which will enter the said reeess in the upper end of the lever when said lever is in mov able holding or locking position. 'Vlie lever will snap onto and form said. projection 17, and the lever will be firmly held thereby in lookin g position,

In applying the clasp, the lever is swung laterally about to thev horizontal positim4 to clear the movable jaw, and said jaw is swung out and the material is placed over the flanges 15, 16. 'fhe jaw is then :swung to closed position with its flange 31, grippi the fabric between tho body plate flanges. The locking lever is then swung to vertical position and its wedging flange lf), rides under the upper end. of the movable iaw and forces and wedges the same outwardly and tightly holds said jaw in gripping position.

The gripping end of the movable aw nnry not always be able to move inwardly the same distance, as the limit of inward or gripping movement of said jaw will depend on the quantity or character of the material gripped by said jaw, and to provide for this variation, l preferably render the lever capable of springing or yielding inwardly at its wedging end. ll`or instanee, l' show the lower or wedging end of the lover nornmlly sprung outwardly a distanee from the outer face of the body plate, while the upper end of the lever is defleeted or sprung inwardly against the face of the body plate. lf so desired this formation of the lever een be increased or maintained by a spaeing washer 43, inserted between the same and the l'aee of the body plate, although l do not wish lo so limit my invention.

It is evident that various changes and modifications might be resorted to, that ele- Y ments might be added or features omitted.

without departing from the spirit and seope of my invention as defined by the appended claims, and hence l do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructions deseribed.

What l claim is:-

1. A garment clasp comprisingl an elongated body plate having a webbing receiving slot at its upper end, the lower end of said plate having a transversely arranged onf turned flange, the lower portion of said plate having a portion cut therefrom and turned out to form a transverse flange and a web` llfl lll() llt) bing receiving slot inthe plate, a movable jaw fulcrumed t'olthepla'te and at its-lower end formed to coperate with said flanges, and 'movable jaw-locking means fulcrumed to said plate above said jaw.

2. A garment clasp comprising an elongated body plate at its lower end forming a jaw, a swinging jaw iulcrumed to said plate and arranged longitudinally of the lower portion thereof, and a transversely swingingjaw locking lever between its endsl fulcrumed to the upper portion of said plate above said swinging jaw, and having a free upper handle end and a free lower end adapted to pass between the inner surface of the upper end of the jaw and the outer face of said plate to lock the jaw in grippingposition.

3. A garment clasp comprising a pair of jaws relatively movable to bring their. gripping ends toward and from each other and to and from gripping relation, one of said jaws formed to receive supporting means, and a wedging lever fulcrumed to one of said jaws above the other jaw to 4swing laterally with respect to the jaws and having a lower free wedging end adapted to swing between the portions of said jaws opposite the gripping ends thereof to tightly maintain the jaws in gripping position.

4. A garment clasp comprising a main plate adapted to have the supporting webing secured thereto and forming a gripping jaw, a movable jaw between its ends fulcrumed to the main plate and at one end formed to coperate with said gripping jaw of the main plate and movable toward and from the same, and a wedging lever between its ends fulcrumed to the main plate to swing laterally and having an upper handle end and a lower wedging end to swing into and from locking engagement with the under face of the non-gripping end of said movable jaw.

5. A garment clasp comprising a main supporting plate at its lower end having a pair of spaced transverse iianges forming a gripping jaw, a movable jaw carried by the main late and at its lower end movable toward) and from and having a flange adapted to move in between said plate iianges and a swinging wedging lever fulcrumed to said plate above the movable jaw and adapted to swing into locking engagement with the upper end of said movable jaw.

6. A garment clasp comprising a main plate having means for receiving a supporting webbing, a swinging jaw fulcrumed thereto to coperate therewith in grip ing the material to be held, and a wedging ever fulcrumed to said plate above said jaw to swing laterally and having means for engagement by the iinger to swing the lever, said lever having a lower end with an ou tturned wedging flange to pass under said jaw and lock the same in gripping position, substantially as described. Y

7. A garment clasp comprising a main plate having a lowergripping end, amovable jaw arranged longitudinally of and pivoted between its ends to said plate to swing toward and from the same and at its lower end formed to coperate with said lower gripping end of said plate, and a lever fulcrumed to said plate 'to swing laterally and having a lower transverse wedging end adapted to move laterally between the plate and upper end of said jaw to yieldingly lock the aw in gripping position, said lever havving a raised portion for engagement by the nger to swing the lever, said plate having a raised holding portion to hold said lever in locking position.

S. A garment clasp comprising a main plate having spaced outturned flanges at its lower end, a movable jaw arranged longitudinally of the plate and pivoted thereto and at its lower end having a gripping flange to coperate with said flanges of the plate, a spring lever between its ends fulcrumed to the plate to swing laterally thereon, the lower end of said lever being sprung out from the surface of the plate and having an outturned wedging flange to pass under the upper end of said jaw and yieldingly force the same to grip ing position, the upper end of said lever yie dingly bearing against the face of the plate and having an outward bulge forming an exterior finger piece and a depression at the inner face of the lever, the plate having a raised knob or projection to enter said depression and hold the lever when in locking position.

9. A garment clasp com rising a body plate forming a jaw, a movab e jaw pivotally joined to said plate to coperate with the jaw thereof, a lever fulcrumed to said plate to swing laterally and having an upper handle end and a transverse wedging end adapted to move laterally between the plate and jaw to wedge the jaw into gripping position7 said plate having a raised portion adapted to be yieldingly engaged by said lever4 to hold the same in locking position.

10. A garment clasp comprising a body plate forming a jaw, a movable jaw 'pivotally joined to said plate to coperate with the jaw thereof, and a finger operated laterally swinging spring lever fulcrumed to said plate and having a wedging end sprung out from the surface of the plate and adapted to move in between the plate and jaw and yieldingly force the jaw to gripping position.

11. A garment clasp com rising a body plate forming a jaw, a movab e jaw pivotally joined to said plate to coperate with the jaw thereof, and a lever between its ends fulcrumed to the plate to swing laterally and at its lower end having a wedging f said plete having a raised portion to enter said depression and releasably hold the lever in locking position.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK A. TRAVER.

Witnesses A. H. MAoPErLL,

i M. BARTHOLOMEW. 

